Steering apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. GRIGNON.

STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 894,174. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

Wm, E.

Q vi tmeooao,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. GRIGNON.

STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 394,174. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

UNIT D STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

ROCK GRIGNON, OF HOUGIITON, MICHIGAN.

STEERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,174, dated December11, 1888. Application filed September 26, 1888. Serial No. 286,400. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROCK GRIGNON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Honghton, in the county of lloughton and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steering Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in steering apparatus.

The object of the present invention is the production of a steeringapparatus capable of causing a scow, lighter, or other vessel to followautomatically in the wake of a tug or other towing-vessel; furthermore,to increase the speed of such vessels by causing the scow or lighter tofollow upon one side and out of the current or rough water produced bythe towing-vessel.

The invention consists in the novel comhi= nation and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in. the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scowprovided with automatic steering apparatus constructed in accordancewith this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of thesupplemental tiller, showing the manner of connecting the same to thetiller-post. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of scows having modificationsof the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates a scow, lighter, orother vessel designed to be towed, and provided with an ordinary tiller,B, connected to and controlling a rudder, G. The tiller of the rudder Cis situated below the deck of the vessel, is suitably attached toconnecting chains, cable, or rods D, which pass around sheaves E,situated on each side of the vessel A and at the stern, and extend alongthe sides to the bow and are secured to a crossbar, F. The connectionbetween the cross-bar and the tiller B is preferably composed of bothrods and chains or cables, the chains being used to pass around thesheaves E.

The cross-bar F is rigidly secured to a post, G, which is suitablystepped in the vessel at the bow and extends up through the deck, andhas removably secured to it a supplemental tiller, H. The tiller isprovided at its outer end with an eye or loop, 72, through which passesa tow-line, I, which is secured to a post, J. By this construction thetowingvessel, when changing her course, throws the supplemental tillerH, by means of the towline, in the direction she is going, therebyturning the tiller l which is connected with the supplemental tiller IIby the rods and chains D, in the opposite direction and causing thevessel A to follow in her wake. By this means vessel A will be caused tofollow automatically in the wake of the towing-vessel.

The supplemental tiller 1 I is removably secured to the head g of thetiller-post G, and is capable of turning thereon to enable it to befixed in different positions to keep the rudder normally turned slightlyto the starboard or port, whereby the vessel will be caused to follow onone side of the towing-vessel and out of the current and rough watercaused by her, thereby increasing the speed and lessening the powerconsumed in towing vessels. The inner end, 71', of the supplementaltiller H is ring-shaped and provided upon its inner circumference withrecesses-71 which can, by turning the supplemental tiller ll, be made toregister with (i-orrcspomling recesses, g, formed in the periphery ofthe head g of the tiller-post G, and the two parts are rigidly securedtogether by a key, K, which fits into the registering recesses.

In Fig. of the accompanying drawings is illustrated a modification ofthe invention, which is designed to be employed wholly above the deck.The rods and chains I), instead of being connected to a cross-piece,pass around sheaves E, placed at the front of the vessel, and areprovided with a loop through which the tow-line I is designed to passand operate the tiller B.

Fig. 4 shows another modification of the invention, in which the tillerB is connected to a chain, D, which passes around sheaves E, placed atthe bow and stern of the vessel A. The tiller-post G is connected withthe chain D by a laterally-extending arm,G. The other portion of themodification is constructed similarly to those heretofore described.

From the foregoing description and the accompanyin g drawings theconstruction, operation, and advantages of the invention will readily beseen, and it will of course be understood that I do not limit myself tothe precise details of construction herein shown and described, as I mayWithout departing from the spirit of the invention make any minorchanges therein.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. A steering apparatuscomprising a supplemental tiller provided with a loop adapted to receivethe tow-line, the tiller-post situated in the bow of the boat andcarrying the supplemental tiller, the tiller, and the cross-bar rigidlyfixed to the tiller-post and suitably connected with the main tiller,substantially as described.

2. A steering apparatus comprising an auxiliary tiller-post arranged inthe bow of a ves-

